Not looking back, not moving far into the future, staying focused on today, living in the moment. Being careful not to allow ourselves to get caught up in all the noise. Understanding that we have a lot of responsibility and need to take action, but moving through the day, allowing Jesus to have control. Staying centered in peace, moving through all the noise around us. Focusing on the present allows us the ability to alter our path as we serve. Being present in the moment allows us to take action when the Holy Spirit guides us. Pushing away thoughts that…
Following Jesus needs no approval. Many of us are raised to live within the norm, generally attempting to display actions and words that are acceptable in our society. I tend to live on the periphery, understanding societal norms yet choosing to serve Jesus. I move forward with my priorities for the day, leaving flexibility in my schedule to serve. I don’t wait for answers. I move forward; however, I live in the moment and understand that there’s abundant opportunity to serve throughout my day. I’m not looking for approval from my friends, family, or others. So long…
I know what I want, what I think, and how I feel, but I follow Jesus. My future goals are not something I spend time pondering. My focus is on serving. Living in the moment, I allow myself flexibility to alter any plans for the day. Decision-making is something I do well, but I give control to Jesus. I know what I want, but rarely feel a need to have my way or to own things. My mind has thoughts and opinions, but I follow Jesus. I have feelings that sometimes make it difficult to do what I know…
I strive to be the person who operates the same whether someone is watching or I am behind closed doors. Doing the right thing is not always easy and may have negative consequences. I like to think I’m a good example and lead by my actions, following through, no matter the implications. But I am challenged with this at times. I’m not challenged in my daily living, treating people with kindness and compassion, and having good intentions. There are times when I’m challenged because doing the right thing means there could be negative implications for my family…
My immediate go-to is prayer. The first person I ask for help is Jesus. In all my decisions, I first seek his wisdom. I ask him to guide me through accomplishing the task. What is it that I should do first? What is the most effective and efficient way to accomplish the task? Am I to move forward with this opportunity? My decisions are much more difficult when I forget to include Jesus. I find myself wavering with no path illuminated. When I include prayer in my decisions, opportunities shine brightly and move me down my intended path. My…
If I’m not careful, my entire day can be taken over, stolen from what it could’ve been, simply from distractions. Letting every hiccup become a mountain, allowing interruptions throughout my day to overcome my time and energy. It is my choice to allow distractions or to set them aside. For me to make a good decision regarding my time, I have to know my priorities for the day. I have a list visible with the most important things I need to accomplish. As distractions flow through my day, I have to decide if I can allow the distraction…
When we look at somebody through the eyes of Jesus, we look at someone with compassion. We see through the hurt, the pain, the suffering, the anger, and we see the light. We refrain from making judgments and intentionally move to understanding. When we approach things from the perspective of love, we have prepared our minds to do so with compassion. My actions are purposeful and intentional. I start my day asking Jesus how I can serve him. How can I be helpful? What is it that I can do for others today? I don’t normally get an answer…
It is everyone’s choice how they love and the boundaries they set around the definition of love. People can love those that they see every day, those seldom seen, and those that are strangers. For me, there is no limit on love, but love is not guaranteed. My love is not dependent on receiving love in return. Approaching others with love is important to me. I strive to see the love of Jesus in everyone. For me, it starts with a state of mind that is intentional, prayerful, and grateful. When my mind is centered on love, so are…
My life changed significantly when I began intentionally seeking purposeful light. It started with fully understanding the meaning of love. Redefining love to look beyond the love of family, friends, and romantic love to an all-encompassing love for others. Loving my neighbors more than myself. I needed to put action to the definition. Being thankful is where I started. Training myself to be grateful for everything I encountered throughout my day. No matter the outward appearance, I silently found something to be thankful for every moment. The first few days, I had to concentrate on being grateful. Midweek, it…
I am a glass-half-full person, but even in the toughest times, what helps me maintain that perspective is believing I’m going to have a great day. I don’t just say it or think it; I believe it without reservation. I have had people give me supported arguments as to why “If you believe it, you can achieve it” is not a valid statement. I understand that there are times we believe we can do something and we fall short. However, I am a firm believer that if I don’t have faith in all that is…